High Court upholds Drumcree parade clearance in late‑night hearing

Crowds gathered in heavy rain on Garvaghy Road in Portadown on Sunday morning after the High Court in Belfast upheld the Parades Commission’s decision to allow the Orange Order to march.

The unprecedented late‑night hearing, which began at 12.20 am and concluded at 2.15 am, was presided over by Mr Justice Michael Humphreys. He noted the “unusual if not unprecedented circumstances” of a decision being rendered only hours before the parade’s 8 am start.

Justice Humphreys affirmed that the courts must respect the judgment of public bodies, stating that the Parades Commission had taken evidence, weighed the key issues and reached a reasoned decision. He added that the threshold for overturning such a decision had not been met.

The Court of Appeal, comprising Lady Chief Justice Siobhan Keegan, Mr Justice Humphreys and Lady Justice Denise McBride, had earlier upheld an appeal by Portadown Orangeman Alan Hynes, confirming the commission’s reversal of its long‑standing determination.

The Drumcree parade has been a flashpoint since the 1990s, with nationalist residents of Garvaghy Road historically opposing the route. Recent legal manoeuvring saw Justice Patricia Smyth initially block the commission’s decision, but the subsequent appeal restored the clearance.

Representatives for the Garvaghy residents argued that the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s threat assessment was inadequate, while counsel for Mr Hynes highlighted the Orange Order’s community engagement and the protection of minority rights.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Vision plug / Pexels.